Svalbard Winter 2019 Expedition Now Open for Bookings

Next Winter (March 2019) I will be leading an expedition to Svalbard in search of spectacular frozen landscapes, Polar Bears, Reindeer, Walrus, Arctic Fox and more. The Arctic in Winter is a place to inspire the imagination. It is a white landscape bathed in golden light.

The main focus of this expedition will be Arctic winter light, landscape and wildlife. In March and April the light conditions in Svalbard are magical. Usually winter trips to Svalbard are limited to day trips on snow mobiles quite close to the town of Longyearbyen. With our expedition ship we will explore a much bigger area including the western and northern areas of Spitzbergen. Expeditions such as this to Svalbard in winter have only really been possible for the last few years. With our ship now fully prepared for an Arctic winter it is possible for us to sail north from Longyearbyen and explore the spectacular coastline of the Svalbard archipelago.This unique expedition has been designed to provide the very best possible opportunities to experience and photograph Svalbard in winter light. We expect to meet wildlife such as Polar Bears, Walruses, Seals, Arctic Foxes and Reindeer. At this time of year the sea birds will also be returning to their breeding grounds.

This exclusive expedition is for a strictly limited number of just 12 participants (some places already spoken for) plus leader and is dedicated to winter photography in Svalbard. I have been fortunate to travel and photograph in Svalbard over many years now in both the summer and winter seasons. Winter is without doubt the most exciting with absolutely wonderful light opportunities in a frozen landscape.

We will be using the ice hardened expedition ship M.S Origo that will enable us to skirt the edge of the pack ice searching for and photographing landscapes and wildlife. M.S Origo is widely regarded as the best ship in the Arctic for Photography. Our expedition ship is also equipped with suf cient zodiacs (2 x Zodiac MKV models) and crew for all photographers to be shooting simultaneously with plenty of room to spare for camera equipment – So bring what you need!If you are keen to photograph the Arctic in winter you can register you interest in one of the few remaining places by dropping me an email. A detailed PDF with costs and itinerary can be downloaded HERE. Places are filled on a first come, first served basis.

APP Magazine Interview – How Joshua Holko Became a Polar Wildlife Photographer

The March 2018 issue of Americas Professional Photographer magazine has just published a new interview on how I became a Professional Polar Wildlife Photographer – Polar Express, Making the most of an icy, isolated niche. You can Download the Full Interview by clicking HERE or on the Image Below

Outdoor Photography Magazine April Edition Interview

The latest April 2018 issue of Outdoor Photography Magazine features a new interview ‘Five minutes with Joshua Holko‘ about my Arctic Fox project in the north of Iceland and the subsequent book on the project Melrakki. There is also an extended Behind the scenes look on Outdoor Photography’s website. The limited edition hard cover of Melrakki has been long sold out, but it is available as an open edition soft cover HERE. If you enjoy the interview be sure to subscribe to the magazine.

Arctic Fox Expedition 2018 Complete

Late yesterday I returned to Reykjavik and wrapped up my 2018 expedition for Arctic Fox in the far north-west of Iceland (full trip report coming soon). We had fantastic encounters with Arctic Fox over the course of the expedition; with several encounters within just a metre of our cameras. I have not as yet had time to do anything more than download my photographs from the expedition; but this image from a previous year of a white morph fox that has just caught a field mouse during a passing snow shower.There are still some places available on the 2019 expedition for Arctic Fox and if you are interested in joining this expedition you can register your interest by dropping me an email.

Tomorrow I will make my way up to Svalbard for a few weeks of personal photography before I lead my final Arctic expedition for 2018 north of Spitzbergen in search of Polar Bears, Walrus and spectacular winter landscapes.